Electrically controlled fastening machine



Dec. 10, 1935. w. BAHR ,023,5Z

ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED FASTENING MACHINE I Filed March 10, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 r f u Dec. 10, 1935. w. BYAHRI 2,023,570

ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED FASTENING MACHINE Dec. 10, 1935.

W. BAHR 2,023,570

ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED FASTENING MACHINE Filed March 10, 1934 3 SheetsSheet 5 Q12 .:/11 J10 r109 Winn n Patented Dec. 1 0, 1935 V I V V t UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELE CTRICALLY CONTROLLED FASTENING MACHINE William Bahr, deceased, late of Deer River, Minn,

by Robert W. Bahr, administrator, Deer River, Minn., assignor of one-half to The Northwest Paper Company, Cloquet, Minm, a corporation of Minnesota Application March 10, 1934, Serial no. 714,944

8 Claims. (01.1-16) V The present invention relates to multiple unit ing machine in order to adapt it to operate acfasteningmachines, and to selective control of cording to, and to embody the apparatus of the the multiple units thereof. present invention, to which end special parts are In machines used for inserting nails, staples, provided for adapting the nailing units for oper tacks, rivets, stitches, and the like, there are freation by electrical control. 5

quently multiple units, or a bank of units, Various other and ancillary. objects and adadapted to be cut in or out of operation in varyvantages of the invention will appear from the ing the settingof the machine. Some machines following description and explanation of .the inare more completely equipped in this regard and, ventio'n as it is exemplified generally and specifhave mechanical devices for cutting in and out ically in one practically embodiment designed for 10 one or more units in successive operations of the attachment to well known nailing machines, as machines. Such machines having a bank of shown in the accompanying drawings inwhich: fastening units include in each unit. a mechan- Fi 1 r p e ent in a general view the, side ical element which is mechanically operated by elevation ofa nailing machine equipped with a the machine so' as to render the unit ineffective device of the present invention.- 15

to fasten. The ineffectiveness may depend up- F 8 a enlarged detailed View} P y i on preventing the feeding of a fastener, or upon cross-sect on, o 0118 Hail feeding and Selecting a mechanical break in operating connection. unit.

Machines of the type above described are likely F 3 a p a v w the a -p 'w' 0 to be somewhat complex in mechanical strucin D P G in a d insi vat in ture, and are not flexible in operation, or in Fig. 2.

changing from one setting to another, and do not 4 is a P View Of the Structure wn in provide for the permanent retention of a con- I r trol element for a given setting. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic representation of a According to the present invention these dis- W -P s it is related 11018; plurality of advantages are overcome and the machine made ing units and a selective control device therefor. more flexible in use, and for a change in setting, Fi 6 is a p sp t v vi w f h n l ac -way by providing an independent electrical control and nail-receivershown in Figs. 2 and 4, with the for each of a plurality of fastening units, and by nai -picker removed. 7 v v 39 providing a master control element for each de- Fig. 7 is a P p v V w Of e n il-picker. sired setting of the machine. Fig. 8 is a side elevation, partly in cross-section,

One object of the invention is to provide a f an l tr m tive dev c r ner ti th na l-, master control element which may be permanent p andquickly removable and replaceable to secure 9 is a Cross-Section a nail -W 011 a given setting of the machine. line 9-8 of Fig. 6. 36

Another object is the provision of an electrical Fig. 10 is a plan view of the interior of a concontrol system between the bank of fastening trol box sho'wing a control drum and portions units and a permissible remote or convenient 10- of witch structure operated thereby. cation for the master control element. Fig. 11 is a vertical cross-section of the struc- 40 40 A particular object of the invention is the protu hown in Fig. 10.

vision of a master control element which is cyclic Fig 12 i diagrammatic representation of in operation, whereby in successive operations the general assembly f t i ti of the machine the fastening units are operated The invention is of course capable of being in repeating idenpical cycles withir} which each embodied in other machines for which purpose 45 of several operations of the mach ne, as to the redesign of certain parts may be necessary i stittt ifeiiifiiitiniiiti titetiri Merely because I v to muster the A particular object of the invention is the proinvention by referensg g j chine, and on a pa ic ar ype 0 nm ng mavision of a holder for a removable drum, the chine, d y reference to specific designs as drum being the master control element. I I I Another object of the invention is the provision must/"five examples It is not to be understood of a drum which may be set and r t t lt that the invention is considered as limited to the its controlling character. I details and use specifically described. It is there- A particular object of the invention is the profore to be comprehended that other forms and vision of means which may be attached to a nailuses are intended such as may fall within the scope'of'theinvention as definedby the appended claims. I p

In order better to explainthe purposesiof the invention reference is made to Fig. 5. Thefragmentary end of a structure I5 is representative of an article having fasteningmeans IS in irregular locations. ;.su h;;an article is 'designed 'with' referenceto a. machine for inserting thefasteners I6. Specifically, the form |5 is a section ofza crate held together'by nails. The designis such that rows of nails are formed." .Ina na'ilingma1-:; chine there are nailing units arranged ini'ga straight line. But it is not desirable that a nail be inserted by every unit When thema'chine'is operated; The machinehereinjdescribe'd is pro vided-with means to insertfnails..at onlyjcertain stations in the row of units at operationNml,

and to insert nails at a diflerentset of stations at operation No, 2. The structure I5' is preferably designed to require a minimum of operations to:

complete it. I These predeterminedloperations constitute a cycle of themachine as herein' referredtog' W The positions for inserting fasteners atea'ch operation determinedbya master con? trol element. .This' is' designed tocontrol' the machine throughoutacycle, andoperates on 2| connects to suitable switch means (not shown) electric circuits which control theseffectiv'eness of a fastening 'unit. "Preferably the'control element'is cyclic in operation and itmay-be designed in one of 7 its cycles to "include onebr'f more, ma 1 chine cycles.-; By such an arrangement'irregular' structures like thatof Fig. 10, 'having 'grea't complexit'y ma y be' ma'de in'repetition in standard ized form without any attention toadjustment of; the machine between cycles or within a; cycle In Fig. 5 there is shown a'ba'nkof fasteners des ffl ignated bynumbers from I to l3,-whichnumbers may be used torefer to stations or'fastening units which constitute the stations. A master controlelementof the cyclic character is repre- 'sented by'rotary drum- ILbut it may be an end? less belt, or a continuous web from aroll, suit-' ably punched, marked, embossed oraltered to provide for an operationjof an electric switchthrough appropriate mechanism. Since Fig. 5 is only "diagrammatic no Specific detail is shown; but there are numbers on the drum indicating the relative points where the .drum'is' effective to control'the operation of' thestatio'ns selectively.

This operation is efiected byrclosures of'afsuite able series of independent circuit wires l8, each being numbered for the station to which it corresponds. Asource ofelectric power. I9 is connected by wire 20 to all of the operative electric units of the'plurality'of stations. Another wire which .are controlled by the drum ll for completing circuits *inxwires 18. The .electrical unit in the station may ,operate in one ,of;many;ways to determine the'inefiectivei ess ofthexunit. For example, it may prevent thejfeedingf of a fasq.

tener, or it may throw out: action some me chanical element essential lto 'operability, or. it

may. interposesome stopf which issuitably ef 'fective. Other means mayQbe'sq.controlled, such 4 details, being no essential part of the invention in its broadest aspects,

' Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic representation :of a .7

machine which may be eifective an: making'the representative "structure "I5. I The lower block designates such struc ture li here shown as extending-into the field of operations of all'of the fastening units. A bank 25. of identical units is shown. The units may vary in structurejbut the one hereindicated comprises a *supplyof fascyclic'formpf anendless belt 33 on which there ,control element 33 and the fasteningmecha- 'As the invention is embodied for illustration in. anailing machine,'a drum control is used which.

. 2,023,570 p teners 21, an electrically controlled device 28 which controls the feeding .of fasteners from said supply for effectiveness in the unit, a mechanical structure 29 which actson the'fastener to fix it, and a fastener 30 shown entering the work piece l5,'under influence of the mechanism 29: The: arrow 3 'Ifindicates" the course iof the V fastener 30 from the supply'21 to the work -piece,

,The individual circuit wires l8 are shown leading from effective switchesl32. The source of 10 power l9 and the-wires 2D and 2| therefrom are shown extending respectively from the source to s the electrical units 28,.and to the switches 32.

"A master1contro1 element is illustrated in the aref'rows 34 of switch-closing means 35 for switches 32,. The control element 33 is actuated in suitable progression with the progress of the workin themacliin'e, eithercontinuously or in- V termittently, and such relation is controlled by 20 mechanism 31, the dotted lines 38 and 39 indieating the correct relation and association of the mechanism respectively to the movementbf-thel nism'29.

is movable step-by-step, under controlof theintermittent manual (usually a pedal) control of the operator-of the nailing machine. course to be understood that'referenceis made to that type of mailing machine wherein the operatorgplacesthe parts to benailed on a table in the machine, and then initiates nailing action at will by his;control of a suitable lever.- This us- 35 ually actson a clutch which releasesitself' after a complete revolution of. the clutched part. In

this revolutionthe nailingmachine goes through one. nailing cycle. Ata suitable time in thiscycle the control element is advanced onev step and in 40 itsmovementof 'advanceit closes and opens a circuit to control the effectiveness of a-=nai1ing Thismay be done in numerous ways, but as herein illustrated there an electromagnet which efiects the release ofa hail from the supply. 45

It is onlynecessary that-the nail be releasedat a 'timesothat where. it falls by gravity-inthe usual. manner it is present ata nailing station; on the work; when thehammer or. presser descends to strikeits'head.

the headis a'ireciprocal, member 44 slidable on the standards to move plungers-45 onto the heads. 60 of nails. It is to be understood :that there'may be a plurality ofplungers correspondinggto sta- 'tions for nailingsr; At-the topof the machine the I usual supply box 46 of loose nailsdelivers them to, Iace-waysHQfrOm each of which a nail is selectivelydischarged into a receiving funneli48 at the end ofa delivery tube 49. y The race-waysofthe machine indicated are associated wi a ailpicker 5 0 which positively selectsa single nail for release into the tube 49. 'Ihe nail-picker is operated by-an electromagnet -5l under control of. one of thedescribed circuits l8 of the-diagrammatic views. Although only one such unit is shown in detail, it is to be understood thateach ofthe severalraceways 41, and tubes 49 of the 75 It is ofgg on the plates. the inclinedrace-way. .The ends 58 and 59 of chine. While the connection may be an el usual nailing machine are similarly equipped. Each race-way 41 consists of the usual two angular plates 55 and 56 (see Figs. 6 and 9) 'adjustably spaced apart to receive a nail slidably between them. Nails 5! are shown with heads catching Nail-picker is placed in front of the vertical part of angle-plates and 56 may be suitably cut'to cooperate with the finger of the As shown in detail in Figs. 2 and 4 the picker is positioned in front of the race-way 41. The picker 50 herein employed is pivotally mounted on a vertical axis. It has the general form of a cylinder 60 through which extends a pivotedstem 6I projecting at the bottom into a hole in cylindrical base member 62. The base member is fixed to a bracketed plate 68 carried by brackets 64 attached to the machine proper. The cylinder is thus easily removable for an adjustment which is provided for to' accommodate different sized nails. Thereis mounted on the top of the body 60 a stop plate 65 which is carried by the body to form a stop for nails moving down the race-way, as seen in Fig. 3. The stopping edge of stop plate 65 may be concentric with the axis of stem 6|. Also on the top,

of body 60 there is an adjustably mounted finger 66 which is movable to a position where,'as in Fig, 3 it will pick out one mail at a time; The finger is generally L-shaped with elongated slots 61 in one leg for adjustment on the fastenin screws 68. The hooking end is sharply pointed as at 69. Plate 65 is sufilciently recessed as at 10 within the hook of finger 66 to provide a large enough recess for the heads of the nails to pass through without danger of catching or sticking. The cylindricalbody 60 is sufilciently cut away to allow lip II of funnel 48 (Figs. -6 and 2) tobe placed out of danger of catching the nail head, and this lip is partially covered during operation by the section 12 of stop plate 65;

The turning of the picker is efiected by electromotive action. A solenoid I5 and plunger. 16 are employed (Fig. 8). The several plungers are mounted in holes in parallel angle bars 11 and 18' mounted on a base I9 carried by the brackets. Plunger I6 carries at one end a head in the form of: locked nuts 80, and has at said end a smaller diameter stem 8| over which. is a compression 8 spring 82 between bracket 18 and shoulder '83.

Plunger 16 at the'other end is connected (Figs. 2' and 4) by a ball and socket joint 84 to a link 85 pivoted to a lug 86 extending from the cylinder 50. A bifurcated angular guide 81 is used at the end of the plunger I6 which otherwise by reason of the ball joint is freely movable laterally relative to the link 85. The end so guided comprises a screw-threaded connection 88 by reason of which fine adjustment of angular position of the picker is effected; The guide 81 is JL-shaped with a horizontal portion mounted fixedly to the link 85 by the structure 84 (Fig. 2) and with its bifurcated vertical portion receiving the connection 88 on the plunger 16. Thus the freedom of motion is constrainedat the ball connection and there is'no danger of buckling.

The master control element may be located anywhere and is provided with an actuating connection operated by each operation of'the matrical one, I prefer amechanical one. Where a drum is used, and where different control drums are permitted with difiering number of control impulses in the cycle of the machine, it is desirable to actuate the drum to advance it overarcs of different extent. This is simply accomplished with a direct mechanical connection aswill appear presently. a

On the side of the machine standard 40 (Fig. 1) 10 there are shown brackets I00 carrying a controlbox "H. A lever. I02 with slot I03 is connected at one endfor a pawl and ratchet connection with the drum to turn it. The slot I03 affords a movable location for a'pivot IM-carrying operating 15 rod I05 which at the other end .is connected to-a moving part of the machine for actuating the lever with each operating stroke of the machine.

For convenience the reciprocating head 44 I (which presses the nails into the work) is chosen. The :0 connection through to the drum is preferably such that asthe machine returns to final position after anailing operation, thedrum is advanced from one position of rest tothe adjacent position of rest, and in. its advance it closes and opens 25 the circuitsnecessary for supplying'nails for the next nailing operation. Thus-the nails have already dropped and the time delay by gravity fall is not effective to create a possible failure of nail delivery. Of course other timing arrangements 30 are permittedby slight changes without departingfrom the invention, and the preferable methods may be different for different types of machines embodying the invention.

The box IOI is provided with cover I06, (Fig. 11) a rotary shaft l0! rigid with both a druml08 and a corresponding ratchet I09. The drum is divided into elemental rows for means to operate the switches, and it is therefore desirable that the ratchet correspond in number of. teethso 40 that each row of such means may be advanced one step. The advance is effected by means of lever I02' which is pivoted on shaft I01, and which carries a dog I I0 pivoted at I I Land held in engagement by leaf spring '2. The drum-shaft- 45 ratchet unit is made readily removable so that it can be changed to provide a new control for a different set of operations, permissively having a different number of rows on the. drum. The numberof 'rowsmay be such as to conform to. one 60 cycle of machine operations or may be a multiple ofthe numberfor one such cycle. As shown there are 16 rows. This may conform'to a-cycle of 16 operations, a cycleof 8'operations or of 4 or of 2. v Each row in the drum has-threaded holes I. 55 into which may be secured the switch operating means. In the present instance these are metal studs II5 screwed into the holes. Thus a drum may be re-set by changing the position of the screws. I to The particular switch means which has been provided comprises a resilient metal finger 'II6 secured to fixed insulation 1 I1 and electrically connected to wire I I8. The finger at the end carries a fiber block 8 on whichthere is a metal 65 tip'I20 in the path of one of the screws 1 I5, the character of the tip being such as to give ane'ces sary time ,of' circuit closure as the screw II5 makes contact in the advance of the drum. This timing of course is variable .accordingto specific requirements and structures. The insulation H9 carries a further metal extension I2I of the finger I I6 at the end of which isa fiber block.l22 with electrical contact I23. A second contact 124 is housed in the bottom of the box IOI, insulated 4. U '1 v.: ,1 aoaac'ro;

therefrom as at I25, and connectedto wire 126,. corresponding to wires 1 8 in Fig. 5. A coiled compressi'on spring illacts between a fixed part of. Y

and specifically in relation tothe structure em-Q v bcdying the invention in itsadaptatlon to'a nail- 5 g y the box and the insulated extensionof finger-i l6.

5 An electrical connector I28 is secured atone end J to'fiber block H9 in electrical connection at I30.

with metal strip 6; and at-the other end to. con.-.

tact I28. Numeral l3l' (Fig. 10) shows one bearing for shaft iil'lycharacterized byna :portion hinged at I32 and securedby wing-nut 133 and its bolt I34 which fltsinto its slotted end I35. By

suchbearings and such drum structure, the control unit is "free from direct electrical connections and can .be' changed without regard for I or dan- 1;, 'gerfrom the electrical connections. l r

The nailing machineof'the type described hav -1 ing-theusualoperating'pedal and the well known clutch which disengages itself after one nailing.

operation; i1.- the pedal is not continuously de- 20 pressed,is also representative of a machinewhich' can operate continuously with repeatedoperations otf'the fasteningunits. This continued op-' eration is brought about by continuously depressing the operating pedal, as is well known inthe 25 art. The present invention as-hereindescribed can be used withoutchange to vary the sequence and frequency ot fa steningin the several fastening units-in such a continued operation 01. the

machine. Where the control element is cyclically 30 movable, as where it isanendless belt. or arotating' element themachine mayfgo through a sequence of cycles without. interruption, and work may be continuously fed through the machine by f hand, or *mechanically in timed relation toop- 3'5 eration'of :themachinel The latter maybe 'ac-;

complished in numerous ways well known in the Y art, forming no 'essentialrpartof-the present in-l vention.

, Itis'alsc. to be understood that the invention- 40 contemplates that the'control 'elementqmay be' I disconnected from themeans tor-advance it regularly and that it may be manually moved-in a suitable' way, or allowed to remain stationary, according :to its particular constructiom'to pro-- 45 duce any combination, or to repeat a given combination. In the .apparatus illustrated, where the drum IOB-isnctefiective to: cause the sole'-, noid to release nails, while the drum is at rest,

11 it will be necessary tomove the drum .temporari-. V 50 ly'into a position wherethe buttons H5, close the desired circuitsand thus release nails; =This may a be done manually orautomatically.-"v 'I o:do5this automaticallyv thelink 105 (Fig. .1) may bead-l justed at a plvotalpoint I04 in the slot I03 or arm |02,'where the resulting-advance of the drum is insuflicient to cause pawl Mo to ride over a'tooth" trol element in a fixediposition to close the selected circuits; Bymeans of a 'switchin orientthe common wires and 2|. of all the circuits, the,

,65 electromotivezoperation mayv be efiected. Such a switch is shown atls in;. Figs'. 5-.andl2, and; it may be in the" line of'wire lla in Fi g. 11'. --This switch may-be manipulated by hand, or it. may

be operated at each, nailing operation of the 70 machine by suitable mechanism '(notshown).

For example, it may, be: operated by the link I05, or'thearm Inland be substituted functionally for the pawl andratchet andbe. operated inr stead of the ratchetwheel.

'75. The operation of the illustrative machine particularly described m be readily memos I from the natureoi the description of itgenerally in-relationto theinvention in its broadest aspect m .what is claimed is: 3 v l "l. A fastening machine comprising a plurality of fastening units, a-supply'ot fasteners Ior said units, mechanism for causing repeated operation of each of said units toeiiect fastenlngoperations in continued operation of said mechanism, elec- 15 tromotive =means, a movable control ,element,

adapted to move progressively in continued operation of the. machine,switch-controls carried by said element in selected positions; said switches being positioned for controlling-opera tions-by said switch-controls in the progresslve movement of said controlelement, and means;

connectingsaid mechanism and said control element for advancing the control element'withthe operation ofsaid mechanism.

2. A fastening'machine comprising a plurality and withvthe supply of fasteners to control the,35

feeding of fasteners to each ofwsaid units, an electric circuit containinga switchfor each of said electromotive means, a movablecontrol element adapted to move to successive positions,

switch controls carried by said element in selected 40 positions, saidswitches being positioned for con-.

trolling-operations by said switch-controls in the 'movement of said element from one position to mechanismflfor causing operations of each-of said 7 units. to inserta nail, a nail-picker for, supplying, one nail'toeach unit for saidsupply,;e1ectromotive means for moving each nail-picker to. feed a nail "to the unit, an electriccircuitcontaining a switchifor each of said electromotive means,,a movable control .element adapted to be moved one step in advance witheach nailing operation 7 of said mechanism;switch-scontrolscarried by said element in selected positions, said switches being positioned 'for. controlling-operations by said switch-controls in the movement of said control element rrom one position to another,

and means-connecting isaid mechanism and said control element for advancing the control ele-v v ment.to a newgposition with each nailing opera- 5 tionz v a V 1 4. Aiastening: machine comprising-a plurality 0f fastening units, a supply of fasteners or said units, anelectrie circuit foreachunit, a switch in each circuit, electromotive means a'ctiveon energization to feed a fastener to said unit from V saidsupply, a control element movable to different positions, and switch-controls carried by said element at selected positions, said switches be.-

ing disposed for selective control by said switch- 76 controls according to the position of said control element.

5. A nailing machine comprising a plurality of nailing units, an electric circuit for each unit, a switch in each circuit, an electromotive means in each circuit for controlling the feed of a nail to said unit, a control element movable to dif terent positions, and switch-controls carried by said element at selected positions, said switches being disposed for selective control by said switch-controls according to the position of said control element.

6. A nailing machine comprising a plurality of nailing units, an electric circuit for each unit, a switch in each circuit, a supply of nails, a nailpicker for each unit adapted to feed a nail to each unit from said supply, electrom'otive means in each circuit for operating the nail-picker to feed a nail, a control element movable to different positions, and switch-controls carried by said element at selected positions, said switches being disposed for selective control by said switch-controls according to the position of said control element.

'7. A fastening machine comprising a mechanical fastening unit, mechanism to operate said unit, a supply of fasteners to be fed to said unit, an electromotive device to control the feed or fasteners to said unit, a circuit for said device, a switch in said circuit operable to prevent the feeding of fasteners to said unit when the unit is operated by said mechanism, a movable control element, switch controls carried by said element at selected positions for actuating said switch, and means connecting said mechanism for moving said control element in timed relation to the operation of the unit.

8. In a nailing machine a nail-presser, mechanism for operating the nail-presser, a supply oi! nails for said presser, a nail-release for feeding from said supply one nail at a time into a position to be acted upon by said nail-presser, an

electromotive device to control the operation oi. 15 v the nail-release, an electric circuit for said electromotive means, a switch in said circuit for controlling the operation of the nail release, a movable control element, switch-controls carried by said element at selected positions to operate said m 

